Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir had good news when he reported Wednesday morning on the joint Great Bend Police Department/Barton County Sheriff’s Office Forfeiture and Surplus Sale last Thursday afternoon at the Barton County Sheriff’s Office shooting range east of town.

“You guys made out like bandits,” he told the county commissioners.

Bellendir, who also is an auctioneer, conducted the sale taking no commission. “The only expenses the county had were just for advertising,” he said.

A 2016 Mercedes-Benz, a 2014 Ford F-150 STX with custom wheels, and a 2001 Buick Century with no keys were on the auction block. They were among more than a dozen vehicles, along with stereo equipment, tools, a generator, an all-terrain vehicle from the Road and Bridge Department, office furniture and other equipment sold.

“The gross proceeds from the sale were just north of $81,000,” he said. 

Some of the vehicles were the result of asset forfeitures, those seized because they were used in the crime, the sheriff said. The police department had a few of those, including the Ford truck, and the BCSO had three or four as well. 

The county wound up with $34,500, in large part due to the Mercedes (which brought $21,000) that was abandoned, not from asset forfeiture. The funds can’t go to the sheriff’s asset forfeiture fund since there was no case filed on that vehicle. 

The state statute notes that money raised by selling surplus county property and abandoned vehicles goes to general fund. 

From asset forfeitures, the BCSO netted $10,375. This is used for non-budgetary items for the department, like new K-9 equipment or extra training.

For its part, the City of Great Bend raked in $34,550 on their assets. Of this, the Ford truck accounted for $25,500.